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Styles · Witbier

Beer style · BJCP 2021 24A

Witbier

Belgian Ale

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.044–1.052
Final gravity
1.008–1.012
Bitterness
8–20 IBU
Color
2–4 SRM (4–8 EBC)
Alcohol
4.5–5.5 % ABV

What it is

Hazy, straw-pale and softly creamy from a big charge of unmalted wheat, spiced lightly with coriander and bitter orange peel. Yeast supplies most of the aroma, and the finish is dry and quenching rather than sweet. Everything is understated: no single spice should announce itself.

Flavor

What a Witbier should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Hops stay in the background: none of their character belongs.

Malt

Grainy, with room for sweet/honey or bready/biscuit.

Fermentation

Fruity esters and pepper/spice, with room for clove, clean or tart.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What Witbier has classically been brewed with.

Nothing else on character: the hops here are there for bitterness and balance, and any variety whose aroma you would notice is out of place.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 50 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.